Episode 554. Club Room (3)

“Hey everyone. Look at this. How’s my hand?”

“Liliana-ssi is amazing….”

“Lumi. Let’s do this next. They call it ‘War of the Stars’. Liliana unnie, is that okay with you?”

“Of course! Lee Hoyeon. Team up with me this time!”

The sight of three pretty girls sitting cozily and playing cards was quite pleasant.

A guy joining them would naturally be welcome, right?

But fun only lasts an hour or two. Watching the Lucy and Lumi twins and Liliana engrossed in the game for over five hours already, Lee Hoyeon slumped down onto the chair.

“…Hey everyone. Aren’t we going to the dormitory?”

It’s nice seeing them have fun. But after going to the trouble of asking Moon Surin to chase away all the reporters, they’re just playing games.

Through the club room window, the sun could be seen setting slowly.

If this keeps up, we’ll still be here tomorrow morning.

“What? Why are you creating a mood to end things just because you want to? Huh?”

“Liliana. I was here the whole time, even before you arrived.”

Lee Hoyeon let out a hollow laugh, looking at Liliana tapping his chest like a hooligan.

If I’d known she’d be this excited, I should have told her not to come.

“Ah… Hoyeon-ssi. Are you tired? It’s okay to stop if you are.”

It hasn’t even been long since we escaped the fake dungeon, aren’t these guys getting tired?

A sigh of pity flowed from Lumi’s mouth, but Lee Hoyeon also needed rest.

“Mmm. Honestly, I am a bit tired.”

“Lumi. I’m tired too. I want to lie down and rest now.”

“If even Lucy feels that way, then okay… Let’s rest now.”

“Ugh, how many hours have we been playing? Haaaah.”

Lucy also yawned and stretched at the same time Lee Hoyeon spoke.

Because her younger sister Lumi seemed to be having fun, Lucy had been trying her best, but she too had reached her limit.

Nice. Lucy.

Lee Hoyeon was secretly relieved by Lucy’s supportive words.

“Eh? So are we breaking up now? I just got here!”

“No, it’s been over two hours since you arrived. Let’s rest now. You fought Lucifer with us too, didn’t you? Aren’t you tired?”

“But it’s fun. Lee Hoyeon, you probably don’t have anything else to do anyway, so rest here with me. We can stop playing board games.”

“…That sounds nice, but I have to go around tomorrow too. I have some things to sort out at home today.”

I’ve spent more time than I thought, so going to see Professor Im Sol today is out of the question.

While resting in the club room is nice, I need to spend some time alone and think about tomorrow’s schedule.

“Hoyeon, aren’t you tired? Where are you going tomorrow?”

Lucy tilted her head while tidying up the used cards.

How long has it been since Lee Hoyeon escaped the dungeon that he wants to go around already?

“I’m going to see Professor Im Sol. You guys heard, right? She told us to come to the lab together. I’ll go ask her.”

“Aha. If it’s something like that, then I understand.”

The memory of using magic together with Im Sol was deeply ingrained in Lucy’s mind.

Besides, visiting with Lee Hoyeon? Maybe she’s planning to give us some huge reward or something?

Lucy smiled happily.

“Then you go ahead. I’m going to play more.”

Liliana closed her eyes, lying on the chair as if resigned to fate.

It’s been so long since I came out; I couldn’t just go home like this.

“Hey. Who said you could play more? Lucy and Lumi need to rest too.”

“I’m okay, Hoyeon-ssi.”

“I want to lie down, Liliana unnie. If that’s okay with you, you can stay.”

“Yahoo! Hey everyone. Then can I also join this club?”

“Liliana-ssi too…? But Liliana-ssi isn’t a student of Victoria Academy…”

“It’s okay, Lumi. We can just make her an honorary member.”

“Honorary member? Is that like a member of the National Assembly?”

Lee Hoyeon chuckled, watching the three chatting.

Playing with the twins definitely has a calm charm.

It’s a relief seeing Liliana play so well, beyond expectations.

“Then I’m leaving. Don’t cause any trouble.”

“Don’t worry. There aren’t many succubi with excellent self-control like me.”

“Bye, Lee Hoyeon. It was fun!”

“Hoyeon-ssi. See you next time…!”

Seeing Liliana laughing ‘hehe’ made me a little worried, but nothing strange will happen, right?

If she does anything strange to the twins, I can just come find her immediately.

Lee Hoyeon said his goodbyes and left the club room.

“…I suddenly feel exhausted.”

As soon as I came out of the club room, my strength drained away.

I’ve been pushing myself for hours right after escaping the fake dungeon, so it’s only natural I’m tired.

Thinking about going home from here makes my head spin.

“I need to go home and rest quickly. I need to think about what to say to Professor Im Sol and Ahyoung-ssi. Hmm…”

Inside the Academy was empty. Everyone must be resting or receiving treatment.

Come to think of it, it hasn’t been long since the battle with Lucifer ended.

Even though my healing power is monstrously strong, I should probably sleep soundly for at least one day.

Lee Hoyeon took heavy steps and headed home.

*

“Ehehe. Come here.”

The club room, now that Lee Hoyeon had disappeared.

With its master gone, the succubus, finally feeling free, began to express her desires wildly…

“Liliana-ssi….”

“I told you to call me ‘unnie’. Unnie.”

Lucy, tired from hours of gaming, lay on the bed, while Liliana and Lumi were still sitting at the table.

“If you don’t call me ‘unnie’, I won’t take my turn. Now, since Hoyeon isn’t here, try it just once.”

The succubus’s whisper approached, like she was whispering in her ear.

Looking at Liliana, who was about to embrace her, Lumi quietly replied.

“…Liliana unnie.”

“Hehe. Good job.”

Pat pat.

Liliana stroked Lumi’s head, whose cheeks were blushing as if embarrassed.

It was regrettable that Lee Hoyeon’s influence had reached even these cute children, but she, as a succubus, could understand.

Lucy, who is mature yet childlike, and Lumi, who is childlike yet mature.

Who could possibly resist the pure charm of these twins?

“If you have any worries, tell me (unnie) anytime.”

“Liliana unnie. Listening to Lumi’s worries is my role as her older sister, so please don’t take it away.”

Lucy, who had been lying on the bed, stretched and returned to the table.

If I stayed lying down any longer, I felt like my sister would be taken away.

“Mmm… Liliana-ssi. I actually have a worry.”

“Uh-huh. Tell me anything. I (unnie) will solve it for you.”

“Hoyeon-ssi seems to be holding back some words in his heart… I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Lee Hoyeon? If you’re curious, can’t you just ask him directly? He doesn’t seem like the type to refuse to answer.”

“Ah… Ugh. But when I think about actually hearing it, I get a little nervous… I want to hear it, but I also don’t want to hear it…”

“…?”

What is she talking about?

Liliana, unable to comprehend Lumi’s ambiguous feelings of wanting to hear but not wanting to hear, shook her head in confusion, then suddenly remembered.

‘That’s right. I remember now.’

‘When I turned into a necklace and followed Lee Hoyeon around.’

‘There were those frustrating kids being tempted by that low-level demon named Felix or something.’

‘I didn’t really understand back then, but seeing that dejected face now, it came back to me.’

‘It was the Lucy and Lumi twins.’

‘But what is Lee Hoyeon holding back in his heart? …Ah!’

‘The shocking words I heard just a few hours ago!’

‘His confession that Lee Hoyeon was the designer of the magic circle that covered the Academy.’

‘Since he’s been suffering lately, it must be that.’

‘He apparently didn’t tell these two.’

Liliana thought it would be better to tell everyone equally if he was going to say it, but…

It could be shocking to these pure children.

It might be better to hide it for now.

Besides, I wanted to respect Lee Hoyeon’s wishes as much as possible.

He was my first Master.

‘Maybe he doesn’t want to get hurt.’

Because they are such pure children, they might be sensitive.

Liliana recalled the appearance of the two when Felix appeared and continued speaking.

“So you want to hear what Lee Hoyeon has to say, but you’re afraid to hear it?”

“Yes… I’m scared of being disappointed, and I’m scared of Hoyeon-ssi being disappointed seeing me… Ugh…”

“Mmm….”

The succubus’s instincts were screaming.

Liliana pretended not to be interested, watching Lucy glance this way nonchalantly and Lumi’s fidgeting movements to grasp the situation.

He had shown these two Lee Hoyeon’s strange behavior at home, but since he didn’t actually tell them the truth, these worries arose.

If I could say something cool to resolve the situation, I would, but sadly, Liliana didn’t have that kind of ability.

“Maybe it’s better if things just go smoothly. I don’t understand difficult things well. But maybe it’s surprisingly not a big deal. Lee Hoyeon always worries about strange things, doesn’t he? Hmm hmm.”

Liliana tried her best to deflect and defended Lee Hoyeon.

Honestly, Liliana didn’t really feel any fault with Lee Hoyeon.

According to Lee Hoyeon, the magic circle covering the Academy was scheduled to be dismantled soon. He felt guilty at the last moment, or something like that. Lucifer snatched it away right before that.

Of course, Lee Hoyeon seemed to think it was his fault for causing the problem in the first place, but wasn’t Lucifer the bad guy in the end?

“Still, you guys like Lee Hoyeon, right?”

“Yes. If it weren’t for Hoyeon-ssi, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything.”

“…Me too. I can’t live without Lee Hoyeon.”

“Don’t worry. Lee Hoyeon might be a weird guy, but he’s not a bad guy!”

Liliana nodded, seeing Lucy comforting Lumi next to Lumi before she knew it.

Seeing them so smitten with her Master made her feel good, and seeing those cute kids receive his love made her envious.

‘Lee Hoyeon had better treat them well. Tsk.’

The only fortunate thing is that he doesn’t seem to be thinking of adding more women.

He too had a shred of conscience.

“No, he has no conscience anymore. Ah! Come here. I’ll give you a hug. Sob sob.”

“Thank you, Liliana unnie.”

“Liliana-ssi… Thank you. Just listening to my worries together gives me strength.”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. Hehe.”

Liliana smiled ‘hehe’, stroking Lucy and Lumi with both hands.

It seems I’ve done it again.

Being too talented is also a problem.

*

“Kkeuhh. I wanted to meet everyone today. What a shame.”

Lying on the bed, only then did the fatigue hit me.

“Tsk. No. Everyone probably needs time to rest anyway.”

I might have acted too hastily from the very first day.

They must all be tired, and if I just barged in right after the battle with Lucifer ended, that would be burdensome too.

“Tomorrow, I should go see Professor Im Sol and Ahyoung-ssi. I need to see Alice too, but…”

Ahyoung-ssi is probably busy with various things, and I wonder what Professor Im Sol is doing.

I should visit Alice and Irene too, but they aren’t answering my calls, so I don’t know when I should go.

Knock knock knock.

“Yeah. Come in.”

The careful knock, considerate of the person inside.

Just from that, I could tell who was at the door.

“Hoyeon-ah. I brought tea.”

“Thanks. Daeun-ah.”

Lee Hoyeon sat perched on the bed and received the tea Nam Daeun gave him.

She entered the room with a faint smile, glanced at him cautiously, and hesitantly spoke.

“…You look drained.”

She came to comfort me.

Lee Hoyeon smiled unconsciously.

I was grateful because I felt Nam Daeun’s pure heart.

“Thanks. Is Dahee asleep?”

“She seemed to have been in a safe place, but she seemed quite startled.”

“That’s a relief.”

I had put Dahee in a safe place when I was designing the magic circle.

Still, it seems she couldn’t help but be startled.

Sip sip-.

‘What kind of tea is this…’

Since there are so many strange things at home, I don’t even know what I’m drinking.

Lee Hoyeon quietly sipped the tea.

The silence filling the room was broken by Nam Daeun.

“Mmm… I don’t know what I should say to make Hoyeon feel better.”

“You don’t have to try so hard. I’m the one who needs to make an effort.”

“B-but Hoyeon was planning to get rid of the magic circle, right? And Lucifer snatched it away… I don’t think it’s Hoyeon’s fault.”

“If you say that, it makes me feel even more sorry.”

“…Sorry. That wasn’t my intention. I guess I’m not talented at this sort of thing.”

Nam Daeun lowered her head deeply with a crestfallen expression.

I tried my best to comfort Lee Hoyeon, but it seemed to have the opposite effect, and she felt depressed.

“No, it’s okay. Thank you for coming to comfort me anyway. Daeun-ah.”

As Nam Daeun said, I did change my mind at the very last moment.

But I made the initial mistake in the first place.

Even if I do well from now on, the water has already spilled, so I have to take responsibility.

“H-Hoyeon-ah.”

“Yes?”

Lee Hoyeon looked at Nam Daeun, who approached him, as if having made up his mind about something.

Nam Daeun, who briefly closed and opened her eyes, made eye contact with Lee Hoyeon and awkwardly raised the corners of her mouth.

“I-I love you. Master…”

“….”

Time stopped.

Or rather, it felt like it did.

At Nam Daeun’s sudden aegyo, Lee Hoyeon’s eyes widened.

“Daeun-ah. Are you okay?”

Maybe she ate something wrong.

Lee Hoyeon worriedly placed his hand on Nam Daeun’s forehead.

She doesn’t have a fever.

“Huh? Oh. Is this not it? Liliana-ssi mentioned before that this was a secret trick to cheer Hoyeon up…”

Perhaps worried by Lee Hoyeon’s reaction, Nam Daeun cautiously looked up at Lee Hoyeon.

Liliana.

Just hearing that name allowed me to instantly grasp the situation.

Lee Hoyeon tried to suppress his rising smile, but seeing Nam Daeun looking anxious like a lost puppy and turning her head made him unable to hold back his laughter.

“Kkuh… Ah, I really can’t hold it in. Pffft.”

“Why, why are you laughing? Did I do something wrong?”

I didn’t know holding back laughter would be this hard.

It felt like the tension filling my body had completely dissipated.

Lee Hoyeon hugged Nam Daeun tightly, who was darting her eyes around.

“No, it’s not that. Thank you so much. You’ve cheered me up.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. It’s thanks to you, Daeun-ah. I’ll try to pull myself together now.”

“That’s a relief…”

Seeing Nam Daeun sigh ‘Phew’ and place her hand on her chest, Lee Hoyeon also smiled.